Pardon the pun, but I’m glad it caught your eye.
First off: we all know rents are climbing and climbing. I’m encouraged to hear that Habitat for Humanity has purchased the property at 437 Little Oak Street with the hope of building an affordable housing village and will hold a community meeting at the property this Thursday, July 21st at 5:30 to discuss their vision and take community input. Come through!
On the subject of housing, I also wanted to provide you all with an update on 515 Olympic Drive. First, thanks to those who have reached out and shared their concerns. Commissioner-elect Taylor and I met with the developer ahead of this month’s Planning Commission meeting and expressed these. The Planning Commission also expressed concerns at their meeting and recommended denial.
In the aftermath, I have engaged the developer about an affordable housing strategy based on our Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance. If they opted into affordable housing, we would expect at least 13-27 units affordable for individuals or families making between $22,800-$30,000. The IZ ordinance also includes an option to pay into our affordable housing fund instead. Using its existing math, this would mean at least 3.6 million dollars, which I would stipulate be put directly in the surrounding neighborhood. This could be a transformative step forward for our issues of blight and the problems of crime that come with it.
However, all this is contingent upon the developer’s willingness, public input, continued engagement with our Planning Department and Planning Commissioners, and consideration of the trade-offs of this approach. With this in mind, I have recommended the agenda item be tabled until September for further discussion.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Athens-Clarke County's COVID-19 Community Level has also skyrocketed recently. We encourage mask-wearing in private spaces and will require them in public ACCGov space and on Transit buses, regardless of one’s vaccination status. Additionally, internal ACCGov operations will include capacity limitations for ACCGov buildings, in-person ACCGov meeting limitations, and distancing measures.
Please take the necessary precautions to stay safe and healthy!
An update on the traffic situation at College Station: on Tuesday (6/28) a private fiber company struck a water main under the westbound travel lanes of College Station Road near its intersection with Riverbend. Staff quickly closed the roadway and worked to reduce the water flow and then repair the break. Eastbound lanes of College Station were unaffected and could be reopened to through traffic. Repair work began Monday, July 18 and staff anticipates its completion on August 2, weather permitting. The earliest reopening of both lanes would be Saturday, July 23, but opening both lanes again before the work is completed could slow repairs down by several days. Hopefully this issue is resolved speedily so we can get back to normal.
Lastly, a highlight from our upcoming voting meeting on August 2nd that inspired the title of this week’s update.
As I have mentioned before, data from the Manager’s Office last year reveals that 76% of those arrested by the local drug task force were African-American, despite studies that have indicated that White and Black people use and sell drugs are similar rates. At our agenda setting meeting, we heard powerful testimony from veterans and the families of veterans who have found relief from war-related injuries through cannabis consumption, as well as a young man whose life was significantly derailed by a marijuana arrest because he was unable to pay the steep fees. I am looking forward to finally passing a marijuana decriminalization ordinance at this August meeting that seeks to end these disparities and ensure law enforcement is focused on serious violent crimes.
The full agenda can be found here.
Aiight that’s all I got — keep your spirits high as the week rolls on.
And, African-Americans are just 25% of the ACC population. Do you get the chance to talk to the police department and ask them why this is the case?